A heartbroken wife found the body of her husband in their garage a few weeks after he lost his job due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Glynn Brown, 47, who suffered from depression and anxiety, said he was going outside to make a phone call before taking his own life, an inquest heard.
Helen, his wife of 16 years, found the IT worker at their home in Wolstanton, Staffordshire, on May 10.
Via a statement read out during the hearing this week, she said Mr Brown was on medication for his mental health but “everything seemed fine” on the day of his death.
“For around 18 months Glynn had suffered from anxiety and depression,” she said, reports Stoke on Trent Live.
“He was put on medication and had counselling. He never expressed any intention to harm himself.
“Due to coronavirus he lost his job, because he was on a probation period.
“May 10 seemed like a normal day and everything seemed fine.
“Glynn had been stripping paint off the stairs. He left the house at 2pm to make a phone call.
“It seemed like he had been a while so I went outside after an hour to see what he was doing. I couldn’t see him.
“For some reason I looked in the garage. The garage door was shut and locked. I got the key and looked inside. I could see him.”
Paramedics were called to the Lansdell Avenue property but were unable to revive Mr Brown.
Staffordshire Police ruled out any suspicious circumstances.
North Staffordshire assistant coroner Sarah Murphy gave a verdict of suicide against a background of anxiety.
She said: “I take into account the evidence from Mr Brown’s wife with regard to his increasing amount of anxiety since the loss of his employment. He had a medical history of anxiety.
“It was not apparent that this was going through the mind of Mr Brown. He was carrying out ordinary household duties that morning.
“There was no reason for Mrs Brown to suspect that, when he went outside to make a phone call, he would take his own life.
“I’m satisfied to the required standard that he intended that the consequence would be his death.
“This is an absolute tragedy. He leaves behind a wife and child and I extend the sincere condolences of the court to his family.”
